Baby baboon named Mousa born at Oakland Zoo

A baby baboon, named Mousa, was born at the Oakland Zoo in November to a mother named Mocha.

A baby baboon, named Mousa, was born at the Oakland Zoo in November to a mother named Mocha.

Photo: Steven L Gotz

Photo: Steven L Gotz

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A baby baboon, named Mousa, was born at the Oakland Zoo in November to a mother named Mocha.

A baby baboon, named Mousa, was born at the Oakland Zoo in November to a mother named Mocha.

Photo: Steven L Gotz

Baby baboon named Mousa born at Oakland Zoo

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The Oakland Zoo is celebrating the arrival of the firstborn of its third generation of Hamadryas baboons.

The baby boy, named Mousa, was born to a mother named Mocha last month, and was brought outside the following day "like many of the mothers in the past," according to the zoo.

Mousa's father, Kusa, was brought to the Oakland Zoo in order to start a "harem" and strengthen the population of the baboons. As is typical with the Hamadryas baboons, the male creates the harem with multiple female baboons. Together, the female baboons raise their offspring and the male — in this case, Kusa — will protect them.

"Initially, Mousa's aunts and uncles were especially interested in [baby] Mousa and formed an entourage going everywhere that they went, never more than a foot or two away and often much closer," says Andrea Dougall, zoological manager at the Oakland Zoo, in a press release. "At almost three weeks old, Mousa is doing great."